The sixth week of the CAF Champions League group stage has largely concluded, with today’s matches delivering unexpected results.
In Group A, the fate of which teams would progress was undecided prior to the matches. Sudanese side Al-Hilal faced Congolese team TP Mazembe and suffered a heavy defeat.
TP Mazembe took the lead in the 21st minute through Jean Louis Barthelemy Diouf. Eight minutes later, Ibrahima Keita scored a stunning goal to make it 2-0. The first half ended with this scoreline, but Mazembe was far from done. In the 58th minute, Mercey Ngimbi extended the lead to 3-0. The final blow came in the 89th minute when Suleyman Shaibu converted a penalty, sealing a 4-0 victory.
This result could have been catastrophic for Al-Hilal, jeopardizing their chances of advancing. However, Tanzanian side Young Africans and Algerian team MC Alger played to a goalless draw, allowing Al-Hilal to finish as group leaders despite their poor performance.
Young Africans, despite their strong play, were eliminated, while MC Alger secured second place in the group.
Exciting Matches in Group C Bring Surprising Results
Group C also featured thrilling matches with surprising outcomes. Algerian side Belouizdad dominated Ivorian team Stade d’Abidjan with an overwhelming 6-0 victory.
Abderrahmane Maziane opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Mohamed Islam Belkhir added two goals in the 27th and 36th minutes to make it 3-0. Aimen Mahious extended the lead to 4-0 after converting a rebound from a blocked long-range shot by Benguit. In the 87th minute, Rezki Hamroune scored from close range to make it 5-0, and Merouane Zerrouki added the final goal to complete the rout. Despite this commanding performance, Belouizdad failed to progress from the group stage.
Meanwhile, Egyptian giants Al Ahly faced South Africa’s legendary side Orlando Pirates in a battle for group supremacy.
The match was an end-to-end affair with plenty of excitement. Although Al Ahly dominated possession, it was Orlando Pirates who struck first in the 53rd minute through winger Relebohile Mofokeng. Al Ahly quickly responded as Hussein El Shahat converted a beautiful pass from Karim El Shahat to level the score at 1-1.
The game seemed headed for a draw until Tshegofatso Mabasa scored in the 83rd minute after a well-organized attack, giving Orlando Pirates a 2-1 victory. Orlando Pirates topped the group with 14 points, while Al Ahly advanced as runners-up with 10 points.
Group D Delivers High-Scoring Games
Group D also provided fans with plenty of goals.
Tunisian team Esperance faced Angola’s Sagrada Esperança. Achref Jebri scored in the 16th minute, followed by a second goal from Yan Sasse in the 22nd minute, giving the Tunisian side a 2-0 lead by halftime. However, Dabanda’s goal in first-half stoppage time provided a glimmer of hope for Sagrada Esperança.
That hope was short-lived as Jebri completed his hat-trick with goals in the 55th and 59th minutes, sealing a 4-1 victory for Esperance.
In the other match, Egypt’s Pyramids faced Mali’s Djoliba.
The Egyptian side started strong with an early goal from Sodiq Awujoola in the 2nd minute and another from Marwan Hamdi in the 10th minute. Despite no further goals in the first half, the second half brought a flurry of action. Mostafa Fathy scored in the 53rd minute to make it 3-0. Ramadan Sobhi converted a penalty in the 60th minute, extending the lead to 4-0. Abdel Rahman Magdi added a fifth goal in the 66th minute.
Djoliba had a chance to respond with a penalty, but Zoumana Simpara’s shot was saved by goalkeeper El-Shenawy. Youssef Obama scored Pyramids’ sixth goal in the 77th minute, completing the 6-0 demolition. Pyramids finished the group stage as leaders with 13 points, while Esperance, also with 13 points, advanced as runners-up.
Quarterfinal Lineup Confirmed
With the conclusion of the group stage (except for Group B), the quarterfinalists have been determined. Advancing teams include Al-Hilal, MC Alger, AS FAR, Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Al Ahly, Pyramids, and Esperance.
The lineup features two South African teams, two Egyptian teams, one Tunisian team, one Algerian team, one Sudanese team, and one Moroccan team.